ROY BIDWELL
April 17, 1931 - December 27, 2023
Santa Fe - Picture a young English boy with life-threatening asthma and big dreams and his caring doctor, who spent hours kindling visions of the American Southwest. Then picture a brave young Englishman of twenty-seven with his wife and toddler son landing in Albuquerque with no job and very little money wired to a local bank. That was the beginning of Roy’s American Southwest adventure.
Roy W. Bidwell was born in Hertfordshire County, England, on April 17, 1931. He passed away peacefully at home in Santa Fe on December 27, 2023.
In England, he was educated at Dewhurst Endowment Boys School, Enfield Technical College, and the Army School of Education in London. He served in the British Army as a staff sergeant.
He arrived in Albuquerque in 1958 with his wife, Eileen, and two-year-old son, Paul. The day after his arrival, he went to the First National Bank in downtown Albuquerque and left not only with his small sum of money but also a job. He was off and running! He spent several successful years at the bank and continued his education at the Ohio State University and Rutgers University, where he graduated from the Stonier Graduate School of Banking, majoring in commercial banking. As vice president of the bank, he was responsible for the real estate loan portfolio.
Forever ambitious and adventurous, he embraced a bank customer’s invitation to explore ownership of his own company. He joined Rio Grande Title Company in 1970 as president, later purchasing it and growing it beside his two sons, Paul and Mark, to be the largest independent title company in the state.
One of Roy’s many distinguishing qualities was gratitude. He never forgot the kindness extended to him in Albuquerque and was driven to show his appreciation by using his enormous talents to promote economic development, long-range city planning, and business growth. He had an enduring belief that these fundamentals, along with a vibrant arts community, would elevate the profile of the city he loved.
His transformational leadership style made him successful in his service as president of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce and as chair of Albuquerque Economic Development, Inc.
Some of the many accomplishments in those two organizations include organizing and pursuing the need for additional river crossings to bolster economic development and land-use planning in Albuquerque. This led to the later approvals of the Montaño River and the Paseo del Norte river crossings. Roy worked tirelessly for many years on this effort with his good friend Bing Grady, also a former president of the Chamber.
Roy also spearheaded the creation of the Urban Enhancement Trust Fund. This was endowed through a settlement with the federal government and the State of New Mexico. The recurring trust fund was to be used annually to “help beautify Albuquerque and enrich its cultural vitality.”
Roy was president of the St. Joseph Healthcare Foundation and later chairman of the St. Joseph Healthcare System. In addition, he chaired the International Trade and Investment Conference and led trade missions to England and Asia. He also served on the board of the regional council of the National Jewish Health Research Center. He did all of this while shepherding his title company and being a caring husband and father.
His love of the arts led him to found “Tapestry Images of Our Own,” an annual monthlong exhibition of fine arts by New Mexico artists. He chaired the Albuquerque Museum Board of Trustees and the Albuquerque Museum Foundation Capital Campaign, establishing a permanent endowment for the museum’s programs, purchases, and future expansion. He also served on the Board of the Albuquerque Symphony and the Board of Directors of the Museum of New Mexico Foundation.
Roy’s most significant characteristic was character itself. Born a gentleman, his trademarks were honesty, kindness, and courage, and he was always dressed to the nines. He was careful in his speech, gracious towards others, and diligent in every service. It would be difficult to find a better man.
He is survived by his wife, Tana Mendes Bidwell; sons Paul and Mark; and Mark’s wife, Frances Robinson-Bidwell; grandchildren Stuart Bidwell and Blair Bidwell Duran and her husband, Angelo; greatgrandchildren Brooklyn and Axel Duran; and stepsons Robert and Bradford Cowin. He was predeceased by his first wife, Eileen, in 2003.
There will be a memorial service at the Cathedral of St. John in Albuquerque on January 24, 2024, at 10:30 a.m., followed by a reception at the Albuquerque Country Club.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Coming Home Connection or the Albuquerque Museum Foundation.